Milkesa Mengesha Wins Berlin Marathon During 50th Anniversary

The 50th Berlin Marathon took place on Sunday, with Ethiopians Milkesa Mengesha and Tigist Ketema emerging victorious in the women’s and men’s divisions.

The 24-year-old Mengesha raced aggressively, finishing ahead of Kenyans Cybrian Kotut and Stephen Kiprop in the men’s race with a personal best time of 2 hours, 3 minutes, and 17 seconds.

Ethiopia’s Haymanot Alew came in fourth. After reaching the finish line, Mengesha fell to the ground, wiping away his tears due to sheer emotion.

Ketema defeated her competitors before the halfway point and finished in 2:16:42, the third-fastest time ever recorded in Berlin.

Mestawut Fikir and Bosena Mulatie, two of his countrymen, came next in 2:18:48 and 2:19:00, respectively.

On a lovely crisp autumn day in the German city, everything was just right. Record breaking 58,212 runners from 161 countries signed up to participate on the route that has set the most world records (13) of any other.

Following the elite athletes’ races in the Olympics last month, another record was not anticipated. Since 2014, this was the first Berlin Marathon without Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia or Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya.

Even after breaking the world record in the Chicago Marathon in October 2023 with a time of 2:00:35, Kelvin Kiptum still has the Berlin course record of 2:01:09 from 2022.

In February, an automobile accident in Kiptum’s home country of Kenya claimed the life of the 24-year-old.

References and Citation

espn.com – Ethiopia’s Milkesa Mengesha wins 50th edition of Berlin Marathon

voanews.com – Ethiopia’s Mengesha, Ketema win Berlin Marathons

kstp.com – Ethiopia’s Mengesha, Ketema win Berlin Marathons

penisulaqatar.com – Milkesa Mengesha of Ethiopia wins 50th edition of Berlin Marathon